The Wildcat Cafe is Yellowknife's most iconic restaurant, operating since 1937 in a small log cabin on the rocky shore of Old Town. It is the oldest restaurant in the city, and one of the oldest buildings still standing — a survivor from the original gold rush settlement. The interior is warm and crammed with northern memorabilia: old photographs, mining relics, moose antlers. In summer, the outdoor patio overlooking the bay fills up fast.
The menu focuses on northern comfort food — bison burgers, caribou stew, Arctic char, and hearty breakfast plates. The food is honest rather than refined, but the setting is extraordinary. Many visitors come as much for the history and atmosphere as for the meal. Reservations are advised in peak season; it's small and fills up quickly.